Feather Duster

(Rob Carr / Getty Images

Lester Shines in 14th Straight Win Over Birds

Boston 6, Baltimore 2 | Sox Fly AwayWho Else But Pedroia to Play a Little Small Ball?Stop the Presses: Bats Bust Out for 13 Hits at CamdenAG Is On Pace to Give Us a Whopping 6 HRs for the SeasonAnother Ace Outing with Salty Behind the DishBravo TV: Crawford Hits and ScoresScutar0-for-4

"I just pitch well against this team. ... I just really don't know. I'm aware of the track record I have against them, but I don't know how to explain it." -- Lester does more vs. Baltimore

More Reasons Why DUI-Lowe Loved Drinking in the Back Bay ... No Driving

Gordo Steps in and Comfortably Fills Remy's Shoes

Rally Bad Ending

(AP)

And They're Back in the Basement

Shops at K-Mart 5, Shops at Cartier 4 | It's Been a Bard Day's NightBeckett Comes Completely Undone, Gives Up 2 Bombs, Won't Talk to TMZIf You Blinked Over the Weekend, You Missed the Crawford TurnaroundFrancona's Flatliners Find Another Way to Lose... Outfield DefenseWorst Offense Ever Makes Jeremy Guthrie Look Like Jim PalmerCC Adds Another Tool to His Arsenal: Bouncing Into Double PlaysPenny Wise: Showalter Put the Sox Money Where His Mouth IsCan We Get Back the Varitek that Was an Unfettered Mess?

"Obviously, that's a huge play [Ellsbury-Pedroia Bungle] any time you give them an extra out. It's not an error, but we didn't catch the ball." -- Tito ... who really wanted to say 'that's why I played Cameron in center!' ...

Rook Cooks Sox at Fenway South

"I thought I threw the ball better tonight than I did in the earlier game (against Oakland) when I got a win out of it. I felt like I was throwing all my pitches for strikes. They sat back and hit a couple of good curve balls." -- The Curious Case of Clay Buchholz falls to 1-3

Streak Over

Feelin' Groovy

(AP)

A Sweep, Another Shutout, and the Well Armed Machine Comes Roaring Back East

Boston 7, Anaheim 0 | Skip Lackey's Back in Familiar SurroundingsThe Pissed-Off-Bad-Beard-On Threw Like Brian Wilson for 8 Great InningsWe'll Never Forget Where We Were When Carl Crawford Hit That Home RunSame Old Red Sox, Sweeping the Angels in Anaheim. Sincerely, Rex RyanYo, Adrian! Getting Close to the San Diego Version in California

"That's the first time I've pitched in the rain here, I think. It was pretty crazy to warm up in the rain. But I've played in Boston for more than a year now, so I've gotten used to throwing in the rain." -- Lackey has to rain on our parade and remind us that we have the worst weather in the world in Boston

West Team Ever

(AP and Getty Images)

It's All Coming Together on the California Coast ...a.k.a. It's Better to Be Lucky Than Good

Basement Boys 4, Monkey Business Goes Bankrupt 3 | Sox Starting to Look BetterSeven Innings or Les: The Big Lefty Finds a Way to Win Without Best Stuff AgainCar Accidents are Slowing Down to Watch Carl Crawford. Sincerely, Charlie SheenIf Bobby Jenks Earned a 'Hold' Last Night, That's the Worst Stat EverAnd It Was the Angels Who Cleaned Up on David OrtizThis Too Will Pass: Sox Just Need to Stick with SaltyPapelbon's Firing Away on All Free Agent Cylinders

"I remember back about the middle of that homestand, somebody asked me: 'What's the best way to get it going? And I said, 'A time or two through the rotation and have them give us a chance every night.' And that's exactly what's happened." -- Terry Francona.... Happy 52d!.... 52? ... Hmmm, Even Obama wants to see that birth certificate ...

"That's the situation you want to be in, especially in extra innings. You know if you come through, you've got your closer coming in. I'll take 15 runners stranded with a W. Doesn't matter." -- Adrian Gonzalez... who looks right at home on the west coast

Road Warriors

(Ezra Shaw / Getty Images)

The Big Payroll Team Pounds Away in OaklandSox Road Woes Are Over for Now

Boston 5, Oakland 3 | They Take Won for the RoadNot His Best Start, But It Was Enough to Get Clay StartedTwo Thumbs Up: Yoouuuuuk Starting to Hit Homers AgainYet Another Hit, and Even an RBI from Carl CrawesomeHall of Famer Jed Lowrie's Horrific Slump Is Officially OverIs Varitek and His .050 Average Really an Option?J.D. Drew Flying Under the RadarPap Slapped Around a BitHat Tip: Daniel Bard

“He [Gonzalez] left a couple of pitches out over the plate and I got to capitalize on it... Buchholz threw the ball well today." -- Kevin Youkilis postgame

"...What are you going to do? I just work here." -- John Lackey. Not happy about being skipped, leaving early, or having to throw over to first help Salty survive

And just for the record, that wasn't the first time Youk overreacted to hearing boos at Fenway: " 'The way [fans] treat some people is just wrong. If you're going to be a loyal fan, be a loyal fan through thick and thin. There are some great fans out there, but there are some fans that I really, honestly believe, they listen to WEEI and that's their final opinion. I honestly think WEEI is what some people believe is what their [own] opinions are. Being a true fan is sticking by your [players] when they're struggling, not booing him when he's coming into a 2-2 game in the eighth inning... He [Julian Tavarez] had no reason to tip his hat to them, they've treated him bad all year. I was watching him every step and was saying to Mark [Loretta], 'Please do not tip your cap.' That's how I felt, for him. I was mad for him, because if he tips his cap here, he's giving in. And that's what the fans do, they give in... I'd rather have no one at the field than people booing me all day... Of course, fans' booing means they care, which is certainly better than apathy, right? Do they really care? They care about the team, but when they boo a specific individual, do they really care about that person? No. If you boo somebody, it's like you despise them.' " -- Sept. 6, 2006, Kevin Youkilis was Irked by testy fans at Fenway five years ago

He's a Morning Person

Keep the Matsuzaka Marathon Jokes on the Back Burner... Along with the Boos

Boston 9, Toronto 1 | Dice O.K., Bats, TooThanks for the Hits Youk... But Stop Telling Us We Can't Boo Poor PerformersMinor Miracle: Crawford's Bat Finds the Ball and Hits the WallJ.D. Leadoff... Not the Worst Idea in the WorldSam Fuld Wears Jed Lowrie Pajamas to BedJury Still Out on AGJLoww 2012

Yoouuuuuk still, shockingly, doesn't understand Boston, booing, or the last 100 Years of Red Sox baseball: “The one thing that was a little shocking is before the game he [Dice] got booed,... It’s funny how he came off the field and everyone was cheering. It’s kind of foot-in-the-mouth right there. But it’s good how he responded to that" -- In fact, it's so good how Dice responded that you could make an argument that Red Sox fans should gather in the bleachers before the game to boo him mercilessly in the bullpen before every Fenway start

“If I pitched badly, I thought there might not be another chance." -- Daisuke Matsuzaka... wonder if he was going to give back the money after his release...

That Stinking Feeling

(Barry Chin / Boston Globe Staff)

The Second Chance to Start the Season BeginsAs Badly as the First Time Around

Second Place in AL East 7, Boooooooooo 6 | This Time They Come Undone in the 7thBobby Jenks Thinks He's Part of Ozzie Guillen's 2011 Blow-It-Up Bullpen
Adding Insult to Embarrassment: Sox Brass Makes Players Wear Childish Fan HatsAnd the Godawful Red Circus Jerseys on a Night That Called for the Home WhitesHe's Hitting .137, Making $142 Million, and It Looks Like the Worst Signing in HistoryCoco Crawful Can't Hit, Doesn't Hustle in Left, Gets Booed Last Night, Benched TodayWay Too Laid Back Gonzalez Must Have Left His Power Stroke on the Left CoastHey Curt Young, Sorry to Wake You, But Why Is Buchholz Going Backwards?The Only Good News Regarding Salty: He's Not Making $142 or $154 MillionAmerica's Most Beloved Advertising... Right Field Foul Line Be Damned!

"I probably could’ve jumped up at it [Travis Snider's RBI double] and given it that extra effort." -- Carl Crawful, stunningly not sure if he should be giving any extra effort to jump start the slip sliding away Red Sox

Sheen's Message to Red Sox Fans: 'Relax'

The One Man Show and Longtime Baseball Fan Thinks the Sox Have Too Much Talent to Remain in Baseball's Basement

At least one baseball fan thinks the Red Sox are going to start Winning! eventually.

After his performance at Boston University's Agganis Arena Tuesday night, Charlie Sheen and part of his entourage traveled over to Brighton at 12:30 a.m. and the explosive entertainer went on air live with 98.5 The Sports Hub's “Toucher and Rich’’ for about 90 minutes.

When he entered the studio, Sheen saw the Red Sox-Rays rebroadcast on TV and was informed that the Red Sox had the worst record in baseball. "Oh, that will change," he replied.

On the sports front, the 45-year-old Sheen talked about his plans to star in "Major League 3."

Hosts Fred Toucher and Rich Shertenlieb convinced Sheen to make a few phone calls to some of his sports and celebrity contacts. They were soon live on the air with former New York Mets star Lenny Dykstra, whose memorable ballclub came from behind, two games to none, and beat the Red Sox in seven games to win the 1986 World Series. The former Mets catalyst talked about hitting Oil Can Boyd's third pitch of Game 3 of the '86 Series into the right field seats at Fenway Park.

"Actually, it was the first time in my career I tried to hit a home run," Dykstra said from California. "And I did... I tried to do something to shut the crowd down so I turned on a piece of cheese from Oil Can Boyd.... those were good times."

Sheen also had Shaq's number in his contact list, but did not make a call to the sitting Celtics center.

Later during the on-air Q&A, one caller wanted to know what Sheen would say to the Red Sox and their fans about the team's bad start.

"I'd tell everybody to shut up, that they'll bounce back," Sheen said. "It's a long season and there's a ton of talent there and a really bitchin' hitter's park they play in. Relax."

The controversial sit-com actor turned headline maker turned stage performer also shared his thoughts about possibly owning a baseball team himself someday.

"My friends have come up to me and said 'Hey, let's put a group together and buy the Dodgers,' and I said, 'Or, we could just go to a few games this year and go home and not worry about it and just enjoy them," Sheen said. "It just seems like more headaches than it's worth."

On the showbiz side, Sheen talked about being vilified by CBS prior to getting fired from the comedy "Two and a Half Men" for having a lifestyle that "that the show was created behind."

"It was a little disappointing," Sheen said. "Had they [CBS] told me, like toward the end of season eight, that suddenly that [behavior] wasn't going to be cool, then I would have adjusted my behavior, but they forgot to mention that."

Sheen also said he's been in discussions with CBS about returning to the hit series and said there is an "85 percent" probability that he will be coming back to start working on the show by August. "There've been discussions, but I was asked not to divulge anything," Sheen said of a potential return to the series.

"...If they [CBS] had to keep the money train going without me, they'd want to do that with somebody else," Sheen said when asked about the possibility of someone replacing him on the show. "But this is a bit time-sensitive as far as having to make the announcement at the up-fronts [advertising agency lineup presentation] in like mid-May. So it's either the show with me, ,the show with someone else, or just no show. So I don't know. Whatever happens, it's going to be radical...

"But I'm doing everything I can right now to make good and give the people what they want which is me on that show... I have tremendous faith that they're going to do the right thing." Sheen, who filed a $100 million lawsuit against Warner Bros. and "Two and a Half Men" producer Chuck Lorre, also said he is not currently receiving syndication payments for the re-runs that air daily.

Dead Last

(Jim Davis / Boston Globe Staff and AP)

More Days in 30th PlaceThe Worst Record in Baseball Belongs to the Best Team Ever

Without Manny and Longoria 3, The Losing LeBrons 2 | And the Beat Goes OnEven Charlie Sheen Left Early When He Could See the Rays Were Winning!John Lackey Better Be Wearing His Sam Fuld Pajamas to Bed TonightJohnny Be Good Again. The Curse of Booing a 2004 Hero ContinuesAdrian Gonzalez Moves Slower Than My Grandmother's DinosaurOne Small Move to Stop the Free Fall: Play Lowrie EverydayNo Patience, No Power, and Now Batting .152. It's Just CrawfulToo Bad We Couldn't Sign a Righthanded LF Werth the MoneyThe Right Stuff? The Sox Didn't Have It and Paid the PriceJon Lester Pitched Well... Just Well Enough to LoseKevin Youkilis Picked a Fine Time to Come UndoneHome Run DMc

"We need a night where we show up and just pound the baseball ..." -- Jon Lester ... puts the stink back on Dustin Pedroia and the offense

The End of an Error?

(AP)

'Hello Pedro? It's Theo. Matsuzaka? Sayonara.'

Curse of Booing Johnny Damon 16, The Fading LeBrons 5 | Dice Lit Up Early and OftenRemember When We Tracked Dice-K on John's Plane? That Was Awesome.Love Him or Hate Pinstripes: That's Just Johnny Damon Being Johnny DamonThe Seibu Lions Are Laughing Their Asses Off on Their Gold Plated ToiletsYep, Papi Is the Only AL Player with at Least 1 Triple for 12 Straight YearsMore Good News: CC Scratches Out Two Hits to Raise His Average to .163Sam Fuld. Sox Fold.

At the End of the Night, It Was a Great Day for the Red Sox

(Getty Images Photo)

Hey, 3-out-of-4 Ain't Bad!

Liverpool Crushed Manchester City 3-nil ... That's Like 16-5 in BaseballNew Edition LeBron James Knocked in 34 for the Heat Down in AtlantaCarl Edwards Regained His Rightful Spot Atop the NASCAR StandingsAnd There Was the Little Problem of Lighting $103 Million on Fire

"I just can't imagine anyone wanting to boo Johnny Damon... all he did was hustle here for four years." -- 4.30.06, Peter Gammons

"The right thing to do is a raucous standing ovation... show some class. Show some common sense." -- 4.30.06, The Boston Globe's Bob Ryan

“I think he’s gonna get a lot of cheers, you’re gonna have your boo-birds, (but they'll) kinda get drowned out by a lot of applause because he's done so much for this club.” -- 4.27.06, former Red Sox center fielder Coco Crisp

"First time up, standing ovation." -- 4.30.06, The RemDawg

"The ideas emanating from the lunatic fringe of Red Sox Nation — that Damon is a 'traitor,' that he has gone from 'Jesus to Judas,' that he should be called 'Demon' instead of 'Damon' — are not worthy of serious discussion." -- 4.30.06, Ken Rosenthal, Foxsports.com

"I think the fans will cheer for what we accomplished the last few years, and boo the fact that I'm a Yankee." -- 4.30.06, Johnny Damon

" 'I think he's probably going to get a heavy booing. You go from Red Sox Nation to a big Yankee. I'm sure there will be a lot people who will cheer him, but I think you'll hear pretty loud boos. That's just how the fans are... No one ever leaves their job for a job that pays more money, 'Why would [fans] understand? We're just overpaid, spoiled kids.' " -- 5.1.06, Keith Foulke, his words dripping with sarcasm

No, Really, The Pleasure Was All Ours, Johnny

Beck in the Saddle Again

(Jim Davis / Boston Globe Staff)

Red Sox Win the Series! Red Sox Win the Series!

Final: Boston 4, New York Nothing | Sox Had an Ace in the HoleTonight We're Gonna Party Like It's 2007: Josh Dominates Yankees Like the Old DaysBeckett Strikes Out 10 Bombers with the Big Powerball, Sharp CurveWhile You Were Reading This Captain Dustin Pedroia Got On BaseWho Who Scutaro Comes Through with Clutch Two Run DoubleCam-for-Ells Slow Roller Knocks in a RunHey Pedey, They Pitched BetterWe're Sick of A-Rod, Too'Tek's Off the Market

" 'Tek and I were really clicking. We do that a lot." -- Josh Beckett makes it clear who he wants catching him for the rest of the season, 'Teknically speaking

The King's Speech?

Theo Epstein was not about to hold back when manager Terry Francona asked the Sox GM if he thought the ballclub would win one more game: "Not one, not two, not three, not four," Epstein said. And he wasn't finished. "Not five, not six, not seven. ..." The locker room roared.

Gone Manny Gone

Not Even Sure If He Could Purchase a Ticket to View the Hall of Fame at This PointManny Was Bangin' 7 Ounce Needles a Night in Cleveland and Finishing Them Because That's How He Rolled. Sincerely, Charlie SheenYep. He Was the Manny of Old This Spring All RightWith Plenty of 'Splainin' to Do... He's Off to SpainOne Last Time for the Road: Manny Being Manny | What a Career

And Thanks Again For Those Two Tainted Titles

We Got This!

(Boston Dirt Dogs / Jamison Odone Illustration)

The Fighting LeBrons Set to Crush Yankees in Home Opener

John Henry's Store-Bought Offense Will Shine Like the April Sun Today
John Lackey Is Going to Earn Every Penny of His Insane Contract Today
The Boston Defenders Will Catch Every Ball That's Hit in Play Today
Phil Hughes Will Cry and Crumble Before He Takes the Field Today
Carl Crawford Will Be a One Hundred Forty Two Million Dollar Player Today
Adrian Gonzalez Will Tattoo the CVS Mini Clinic Sign on the Left Field Wall
Fans Will Line Up to Take Photos of the New Cement Floor in the Concourse
And Terry Francona Will Manage Like Brad Mills Is Calling the Shots Next to Him

"We certainly were aware it could happen [squeeze for a run]... They're not going to tell us. You pick your poison, they executed it, and it hurts.

"He [Darnell McDonald] went around second like he was supposed to and he just slipped and when you're playing like we are... every mistake mounts. we have to start playing like when someone slips it doesn't cost us a ballgame." -- Terry Francona postgame on NESN

Low FiveDeep Six

Cleveland 8, Loston 4 | Best Team Never Ever WinsAsdrubal Cabrera Puts an End a Big Market Teams' World Series DreamHit Me With Your Best Shot: A Devastating Bullpen Collapse by Sox, DennysDream Team Batting Ave. .190, ERA 8.33, Games Left to Play: Only 157I Think We Need to Have a Team FSG Meeting. Sincerely, LeBron JamesWE WON'T REST Until We're 0-6. All In?The Captain Was Confused

"This game will humble you in a hurry and it's doing that to us right now. We've got to start acting like a good team... We've got to find a way to win a game. I don't think many of us is going to sleep, so we might as well go ahead and play pretty soon. ... We can't feel sorry for ourselves." -- Terry Francoma (and "Francoma" was trademarked right here Charlie Sheen, as was Garciapopup, Dice-K, J-Bay, Rent-a-Wreck, and many more!)

Charlie Sheen Made a New T-Shirt in Cleveland

'Duh! Losing!'

(AP)

Sox Coin a New Catch Phrase in ClevelandThe 'Best Team Never' Drops to an Ugly 0-4And If They Don't Make History, They're History

Cleveland 3, Bad News Bears 1 | And Now the Offense Is Killing UsDid You Know? No Team Has Won the World Series After Starting 0-4?Josh Tomlin: Salary: $417,200. How's That Taste, Theo? Sincerely, Buck ShowalterLooked Like Another Progressive Field Sell Out. Sincerely, Red Sox PR Dept.So Much for Beckett's Soft Landing ... 106 Pitches in Just 5 InningsThe Plane Truth: Sox Fans Getting Sick After This Rough FlightMore Good News: Crawford's Skittish on Defense, TooComing to an Also-Ran Near You: Closer Bobby JenksSo Who Was That Guy With the 'C' on His Uniform?How Long Can They Hide Scutaro at Short?Carl Crawful ...Meet Edgar Rent-a-WreckSalty's Not Catching On

"We need some kind of spark right now. It's a little surprising, frustrating. We've got high hopes for this season." -- Carl Crawford... was supposed to be the spark

"You can't say this wasn't expected to a certain degree. Lots of new parts on this squad. There is always a chance (and almost certainty) that a team will lose 4 games in a row at least once in their season. However, what's most concerning is the god awful pitching. This was a group a few short years ago that was characterized by determination and guts. Now it just looks like a culture of laziness and bitterness." -- Big Bill H.

"Jacoby Ellsbury should be renamed 'Trade Bait.' His constant upper cut swing brings back Memories of Garciapopup ... Hey Jacoby 'YO NO BIG PAPI,' BUNT THE BALL!!! Any way we can get Reymond Fuentes back from San Diego for Ellsbury straight up? -- Joe

"We got outplayed all the way around. They hit better than us, they pitched better than us. Now we've got to regroup and get us a win so we can feel better about ourselves." -- Terry Francona, Red Sox manager... for now...

Lesterrible

(Jim Davis / Boston Globe Staff)

It's a Texas Mess for Openers

Texas 9, Boston 5 | Can't Win 100 Until You Win No. 1Lester Gives Up 3 Homers, Strikes Out Zero Batters, But Hits 2 GuysSo Carl Crawford Is Basically Lee Tinsley With a Bigger Contract?It's Been a Bard Days Night and He Was Pitching Like a DogWhy Can't We Get Guys Like David Murphy, Lobie?Papi Can Hit Some of the Lefties, Some of the TimeCan't Blame This One on Beckett or PapelbonBright Side: AG OK

"I really don't care about April. It's nice to go out and pitch well, but at the end of the year, everything speaks for itself. It sucks at the time, but everything pretty much speaks for itself at the end of the year. I'll get going when I get going. I don't know what it is. I don’t know what to do. I've done different things each year, and I'll just go about it this year and see what happens." -- Jon Lester when asked about his slow starts in April upon arrival in Fort Myers in February

Breaking News from England: John Henry to Sell Liverpool Reds

(Stan Grossfeld / Boston Globe Staff)

Red Sox Owner Plans to Unload Liverpool Football Club and Get Back to Baseball in Boston

April 1, 2011, 8:57 a.m. E.D.T.: With the start of the Red Sox season just hours away, Liverpool Football Club (LFC) and Boston Red Sox owner John Henry is putting the Liverpool Reds up for sale immediately. Henry, who purchased LFC for $476 million in October, is "looking for upwards of $1 billion" for the venerable 118-year-old English Premier League franchise.

"I'm done with this," Henry wrote in an e-mail to Boston Dirt Dogs earlier this morning from his estate in London. "Between the godawful weather over here, all the time... you thought I looked pale in Boston? You should see me now, but I digress... the always terrible food, Linda [Pizzuti] running up credit cards at Christie's, Bonhams, and Sotheby's on a daily basis... Tom [Werner] wandering around the streets of London all day, no idea what to do... this antiquated Anfield dump we have to watch these matches in... you thought Fenway Park was old? This place makes Fenway look like Cowboys Stadium..."

But Henry insisted that the overriding reason he is selling the soccer team is that he misses baseball and living in Boston.

"They flew me back for the Adrian Gonzalez press conference, and I didn't even know where I was," Henry said. "I was spending every waking moment worrying about this freakin' soccer team... a team that's scored just one goal in its last three matches!... So I started to realize then just how out of touch I was with America, the Red Sox, and all that was happening back in Boston.

"When we bought the team in 2001, I said at the time that the Boston Red Sox are a special franchise that deserved special attention and stewardship. Well somewhere along the way, while we were building Fenway Sports Ventures or whatever it is we're calling it, I lost my way. At the end of the day, I'm a baseball guy, not a soccer guy. It's the most boring game on earth... I learned the hard way. Did you know they don't use their hands, at all?!?"

Henry also said that others in the Red Sox organization pushed him into the Liverpool purchase when Tom Hicks and George Gillett were forced to sell to repay 200 million pounds of the club’s 351 million pounds of debt.

"Tom [Werner], but I think this was [former NESN chief] Joel Feld talking, said this soccer thing was going to be big on NESN, that we would 'knock Comcast out of the ring'... was what I think he said at the time. Well guess what? You can take soccer, the NASCAR nonsense, Dirty Water TV, Pocket Change, NESN Daily, all our award-winning programming... and the numbers are still smaller than the number of goals the Reds score on a weekly basis... Baseball is the only thing that gets us ratings on NESN.

"So my plan is to get the 'For Sale' signs up everwhere, gas up my plane, and land back in Boston in time to see Lester throw his first pitch in Texas. I'm back baby!"